CALIFORNIA BAY AREA BLUES NEWS BY MARIA BAINER, Vol.1, 2009

2009
January/April

by Maria BAINER

music by ELVIN BISHOP

Blues activities continued to happen during the last three months of 2008. There were smaller, more intimate special events, some news items, quite a few visiting musicians, and some new CD releases.
So here are the details.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Velma’s, a San Francisco venue, celebrated their first anniversary in October. A trio of three, Lady Bianca from California, Johnny Rawls from Mississippi, and Blues Boy Willie from Texas, all came together and performed. In fact, this group planned to tour other venues as well. In addition, it was the launching of Velma’s Youth Music Monitoring Program. The party raised funds to help young people learn their heritage of blues and jazz from local master artists. Twenty-five “at risk” youth were given their own instruments so they could learn to express themselves positively.

There was a fifth annual Blues Guitar Extravaganza in October in San Francisco at a fairly new venue, Yoshis. Rene Solis organized it and played in it. This event also included Daniel Castro, Ron Thompson, and Jeff Watson. Also in San Francisco there was a Jimmy Hendrix Experience which featured Buddy Guy, Curtis Salgado, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and from the Los Lobos group, David Hildago.

On Sunday afternoon, November 16, there was a Celebration of LifeTribute for the late drummer, Francis Clay on his birthday.
Although sparsely attended, it was a nice afternoon with a slide show and good performances, including ones by Lady Bianca and Alvon.

The Sacramento Heritage Festival, Inc. continued their monthy themed shows. In October, it was Chicago #4 Blues. It featured Ronnie Baker Brooks, the Crown Prince of the Blues, Eddie C. Campbell, West Side Blues Legend, and Elmore James, Jr., a second generation bluesman. The Cadillac Zack Band were special guests.

In November, it was Motown Blues. Performers were Bettye LaVette, 2007 “Living Blues” Most Outstanding Blues Singer, Johnnie Bassett,Detroit’s Gentleman of the Blues, and Thornetta Davis, Detroit’s Princess of the Blues. As usual, proceeds from these shows are given to a music education program in a Sacramento area pubic school.

NEWS ITEMS

Within the last six months, two Bay Area musicians have been unanimously inducted into the National Heritage Foundation Blues Hall of Fame as Great Blues Musicians. Their music and love for the blues were prime factors. The two inductees are Monica Dupont and Ron Thompson. In addition, Monica received another honor, Blues Hall of Fame Ambassador, from them. She is the only person to be inducted twice in the entire history of the Blues Hall of Fame. Congratulations to both. The honors are well-deserved.

This Blues Hall of Fame is not to be confused with the Blues Hall of Fame of the Blues Foundation, but the two groups work closely together. In fact, a Crossroads Hotel and Entertainment Complex in Clarksdale, Mississippi, will be built, and the two groups will share the same building. This complex will be at the legendary “crossroads” of Highways 49 and 61, made famous by Robert Johnson, where, according to blues legend, he sold his soul to the devil in order to become a Master Blues Artist. For more information on the Blues Hall of Fame and/or the Crossroads Complex, check out: www.blueshalloffame.com

On The Legendary R&B Cruise in October, where there were 20 bands, 70+ shows, and 5 stages, some of our Bay Area musicians were on-board. That included Elvin Bishop, Tommy Castro, Kenny Neal, Shane Dwight, and John Nemeth. Another traveler, John Lee Hooker, Jr., toured parts of Europe and Turkey in support of his new CD, “All Odds
Against Me.”

Mark Hummel’s Harp Blowout starts January 6, 2009 and runs through February 14. Check out the facts on Mark’s website: www.markhummel.com.

TOURING MUSICIANS

A full list of musicians toured the extended Bay Area. It included:
95-year old Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Chico Banks, Mike Wheeler, 14-year old Little Chris, James Wheeler, Little Willie John Jr., 78-year old and sister of Little Willie John, Mabel John; Barbara Morrison., who did a tribute to Charles Brown; Eric Sardinas, Eden Brent, Chris Cotton, Derick Hughes, Laurie Morvan, Billy “Big Daddy” Cade, Lil Dave Thompson, Tori Sparks, David Landon Band, Ruthie Foster, Eric Bibb, Sonny Rhodes, Mavis Staples, Coco Montoya, Hamilton Loomis, Sonny Blue Bland, son of Bobby Bland.

MUSIC NEWS

Monica Dupont wrote, sang, and recorded her song, “Peace in the World” with Ron Thompson on guitar. She has offered a free download of this song. Check out http://myspace.com/monicadupont or http://www.modernbluesrecords.com for it.

Keith Crossan, Tommy Castro’s long-time sax player, has an instrumental CD out titled “ Beatnik Jungle.” Faye Carol’s new CD is entitled, “ Faye Sings Lady Day.” Curtis Lawson has a limited edition of fghjk CD out, called “Sitting In A Love Zone.” He plans to add 6 more songs to it in 2009.

That wraps it up for this time. I’ll leave you with some thoughts about blues from Steven O. Sellars, musician. The blues is a “simple musical form that digs deep into the most complicated of human emotions, and comes up with hope and promise for the future.”

----- Maria Bainer, 2009

home

back

BluesArt-Journal - is an electronic publication. Worldcopyright © 1998-2009 BluesArtStudio, BluesLife, USA - AUSTRIA.
All rights reserved. Made with Macintosh


2009 January/April		by Maria BAINER

music by ELVIN BISHOP		Blues activities continued to happen during the last three months of 2008. There were smaller, more intimate special events, some news items, quite a few visiting musicians, and some new CD releases. *So here are the details.*
SPECIAL EVENTS
		Velma’s, a San Francisco venue, celebrated their first anniversary in October. A trio of three, Lady Bianca from California, Johnny Rawls from Mississippi, and Blues Boy Willie from Texas, all came together and performed. In fact, this group planned to tour other venues as well. In addition, it was the launching of Velma’s Youth Music Monitoring Program. The party raised funds to help young people learn their heritage of blues and jazz from local master artists. Twenty-five “at risk” youth were given their own instruments so they could learn to express themselves positively. There was a fifth annual Blues Guitar Extravaganza in October in San Francisco at a fairly new venue, Yoshis. Rene Solis organized it and played in it. This event also included Daniel Castro, Ron Thompson, and Jeff Watson. Also in San Francisco there was a Jimmy Hendrix Experience which featured Buddy Guy, Curtis Salgado, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and from the Los Lobos group, David Hildago. On Sunday afternoon, November 16, there was a Celebration of LifeTribute for the late drummer, Francis Clay on his birthday. Although sparsely attended, it was a nice afternoon with a slide show and good performances, including ones by Lady Bianca and Alvon. The Sacramento Heritage Festival, Inc. continued their monthy themed shows. In October, it was Chicago #4 Blues. It featured Ronnie Baker Brooks, the Crown Prince of the Blues, Eddie C. Campbell, West Side Blues Legend, and Elmore James, Jr., a second generation bluesman. The Cadillac Zack Band were special guests. In November, it was Motown Blues. Performers were Bettye LaVette, 2007 “Living Blues” Most Outstanding Blues Singer, Johnnie Bassett,Detroit’s Gentleman of the Blues, and Thornetta Davis, Detroit’s Princess of the Blues. As usual, proceeds from these shows are given to a music education program in a Sacramento area pubic school.
NEWS ITEMS
		Within the last six months, two Bay Area musicians have been unanimously inducted into the National Heritage Foundation Blues Hall of Fame as Great Blues Musicians. Their music and love for the blues were prime factors. The two inductees are Monica Dupont and Ron Thompson. In addition, Monica received another honor, Blues Hall of Fame Ambassador, from them. She is the only person to be inducted twice in the entire history of the Blues Hall of Fame. Congratulations to both. The honors are well-deserved. This Blues Hall of Fame is not to be confused with the Blues Hall of Fame of the Blues Foundation, but the two groups work closely together. In fact, a Crossroads Hotel and Entertainment Complex in Clarksdale, Mississippi, will be built, and the two groups will share the same building. This complex will be at the legendary “crossroads” of Highways 49 and 61, made famous by Robert Johnson, where, according to blues legend, he sold his soul to the devil in order to become a Master Blues Artist. For more information on the Blues Hall of Fame and/or the Crossroads Complex, check out: www.blueshalloffame.com On The Legendary R&B Cruise in October, where there were 20 bands, 70+ shows, and 5 stages, some of our Bay Area musicians were on-board. That included Elvin Bishop, Tommy Castro, Kenny Neal, Shane Dwight, and John Nemeth. Another traveler, John Lee Hooker, Jr., toured parts of Europe and Turkey in support of his new CD, “All Odds Against Me.” Mark Hummel’s Harp Blowout starts January 6, 2009 and runs through February 14. Check out the facts on Mark’s website: www.markhummel.com.
TOURING MUSICIANS
		A full list of musicians toured the extended Bay Area. It included: 95-year old Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Chico Banks, Mike Wheeler, 14-year old Little Chris, James Wheeler, Little Willie John Jr., 78-year old and sister of Little Willie John, Mabel John; Barbara Morrison., who did a tribute to Charles Brown; Eric Sardinas, Eden Brent, Chris Cotton, Derick Hughes, Laurie Morvan, Billy “Big Daddy” Cade, Lil Dave Thompson, Tori Sparks, David Landon Band, Ruthie Foster, Eric Bibb, Sonny Rhodes, Mavis Staples, Coco Montoya, Hamilton Loomis, Sonny Blue Bland, son of Bobby Bland.
MUSIC NEWS
		Monica Dupont wrote, sang, and recorded her song, “Peace in the World” with Ron Thompson on guitar. She has offered a free download of this song. Check out http://myspace.com/monicadupont or http://www.modernbluesrecords.com for it. Keith Crossan, Tommy Castro’s long-time sax player, has an instrumental CD out titled “ Beatnik Jungle.” Faye Carol’s new CD is entitled, “ Faye Sings Lady Day.” Curtis Lawson has a limited edition of fghjk CD out, called “Sitting In A Love Zone.” He plans to add 6 more songs to it in 2009. That wraps it up for this time. I’ll leave you with some thoughts about blues from Steven O. Sellars, musician. The blues is a “simple musical form that digs deep into the most complicated of human emotions, and comes up with hope and promise for the future.” *----- Maria Bainer, 2009*

home		back
BluesArt-Journal - is an electronic publication. Worldcopyright © 1998-2009 BluesArtStudio, BluesLife, USA - AUSTRIA. All rights reserved. Made with Macintosh